Goodnight Knocks and Dreamy Kisses
The goodnight knock made her body twitch. Was it just the perfectly timed interruption? She slipped down from the soft, squishy slime bed and cautiously gripped the door handle. Through the crack in the door, she caught a glimpse of red hair. It was Veronica who'd knocked. Well, if it had been Cecil, she probably would've just barged right in...?
But what could she want at bedtime? It wasn't like she was scared and wanted to sleep together... Or maybe she was here to say she couldn't take it anymore? That would be... a problem.
Staring at Veronica's peeking face, Asha opened her mouth. "What's up?"
"Uh... um."
Veronica hesitated for a moment before speaking in a calm voice. "I just... haven't had time to talk with just the two of us...?"
It seemed like something important. Well, aside from her master, Veronica was the only one who knew her full situation, so there might be things they needed to discuss alone.
She couldn't just leave a visitor standing there, so Asha opened the door. Watching Veronica enter cautiously stirred a strange feeling. They'd shared a room before, coming and going without a care, but now that they had separate rooms, she was acting all hesitant... What was it? Did it feel like they were growing distant, leaving a pang of regret?
Come to think of it, Veronica, knowing the circumstances, might not have minded sharing a room with her. Back when she'd done that to her, Veronica wouldn't have remembered anyway... and she knew the original Asha.
Yeah. This was probably the right distance. Maybe she'd gotten too used to this changed body. Was that why? A strangely melancholic mood settled over her.
Just as the thought branched out sentimentally, Veronica's voice pruned it clean, like expert trimming. "Asha?"
"Ah, yeah."
While she stood there lost in thought, Veronica had approached without her noticing, gazing at her with concern. "Something wrong? Well... today was pretty hectic..."
"It's nothing... Just lost in thought."
"Yeah?"
Asha sat on the bed beside Veronica, who had plopped down with a thud. "...Why are you sitting so far away?"
"Huh?"
"...Never mind."
With that, a subtle silence filled the room. It wasn't uncomfortable, just a quiet where there wasn't much to say. As the innocent slime bed crumpled beneath them, Veronica finally broke the ice.
"Um... you okay?"
"With what?"
"You seemed... really on edge today."
"Did I...?"
Recalling how she'd roughly tossed aside her gear, yeah, it might've looked that way. She hadn't felt anxious, just annoyed by the constant visitors. "Not really? I was just a bit irritated."
"..."
Veronica eyed her skeptically. Asha shrugged, unable to explain, and Veronica let out a deep sigh. She might sigh her lungs out at this rate.
"If you say so... fine."
She grabbed the end of her red hair and twirled it around her finger. It looked like she had more to say. Normally, Asha might've brushed it off as nothing, but... why did it feel different now? She just sensed it.
"Anything else you wanna say?"
"Uh... yeah, there is."
Veronica untangled her hair, lifted her hips, and scooted closer. Her eyes held a serious glint. She glanced around warily, as if guarding against eavesdroppers, then whispered, "Aren't you being too soft on that Cecil girl?"
"Me?"
...No way. She thought she was strict, even controlling her milk output. Veronica sighed at Asha's baffled expression.
"Why the clueless face? Even today—you decided she needed her own room, but then told her to come if she's scared? Doesn't that strike you as weird?"
"...She's still a kid."
Veronica stared as if questioning if she really believed that, so Asha nodded faintly. Veronica shook her head like she was hopeless.
"If I tell her no, she listens... She picks things up fine if I teach her properly... As long as I'm careful, it'll be okay."
"...You've already been caught a few times."
"By that logic, you—"
"Wah!!!"
Veronica shouted and clamped a hand over Asha's mouth. Her face was beet red. Asha exhaled in frustration, and Veronica flinched, pulling away. The sight made her burst out laughing.
"W-what are you laughing at! I'm seriously warning you!"
"S-sorry."
Calming her laughter, Asha looked at Veronica. The girl's slightly serious face reflected in her eyes.
"What happened back then... most of it won't come up again... It was because of the beastkin potion."
"...Sorry."
"It's fine."
...Of course, there were various reasons she forgave it so easily, but she couldn't voice them... So, like a man, she decided to let it slide.
"And from now on, if anything happens, you can protect me, right? You're the only one I can spill everything to right now."
"..."
Veronica's face was still flushed, her excitement lingering. When she stayed silent, Asha nudged her shoulder. "Veronica?"
"Y-yeah! Right! I'll protect you, Asha!"
Her enthusiastic declaration drew a chuckle from Asha. "Probably won't need to anymore, but... thanks. Honestly, just covering for me for a while is more than enough."
"...That reminds me—do you always make this much?"
It was... quite a lot, yeah. "You can tell from the workshop and house facilities, right?"
"..."
Facilities that spewed hot water anytime didn't come cheap. In her previous life, maybe, but here? Plus preservation units and other luxuries she hadn't enjoyed yet due to busyness. That's why she'd suffered with cheap tools once... But now, with her master's gifts, no issues.
They chatted idly about potions after that. Midway, Veronica let out a massive yawn, tears welling up.
"W-what are you staring at!"
...Why was she mad at her after doing it herself? Blushing, Veronica yawned again, and Asha gentlemanly escorted her back to her room. Leaving the blinking girl behind, she headed to her own.
In the slightly chilly hallway, Cecil's door came into view. For some reason... she couldn't just pass by. Was she asleep, or still awake? She knocked softly on the quiet door. No response. Sleeping? The thought brought a warm satisfaction. This must be how parents feel raising kids. Just a guess, though. She'd never... given birth. First time and all. Weird way to put it, but anyway.
Worried if Cecil was sleeping well, she cracked the door open. As expected, it wasn't locked. Should she tell her to lock it, or leave it? As she pondered, Cecil came into view.
"...Oh dear."
She'd kicked off the blanket, curled up like a shrimp. Asha sighed softly, crossed the cool air, and gently stroked her back to straighten her posture. Warm, familiar body heat radiated.
"Mm..."
She tucked a pillow under her head and fetched the blanket, but Cecil's eyes fluttered half-open. Her dazed red eyes fixed on Asha.
"Asha... -nim...?"
Asha stroked her hair silently and covered her, but a puzzled voice came. "You said... we had to sleep separately... so why is Asha-nim...?"
Feeling inexplicably guilty, an excuse slipped out. "...It's a dream."
Cecil blinked her sleepy eyes and murmured, "A dream...? Is Cecil dreaming right now?"
"Y-yeah."
"I see... That's fine, then. Hehe..."
She started nuzzling into the stroking hand. The warm, soft sensation was addictive. Snapping to, Asha patted her to sleep. "It's late—go back to sleep."
"Even in a dream... do I have to sleep?"
"...You need to sleep to wake up in reality."
"I see..."
The conversation felt increasingly absurd, but sleep-drunk Cecil didn't notice. "Understood..."
She mumbled, gazing at Asha with hazy eyes, her small mouth working. "Before sleeping... could you kiss Cecil? Since... it's a dream."
The unexpected request froze her. Afraid to plant doubt in those blurry eyes, Asha leaned in. ...She hadn't lied from the start. Just a light goodnight kiss like with Veronica this morning? Probably just wanting affection.
She pressed her lips to Cecil's soft, moist ones. Cecil beamed contentedly and... began breathing evenly.
Asha pulled the blanket to her neck, slipped out quietly, and returned to her room. For some reason, yesterday's events flashed back, making her shake her head. ...Time for bed. Her dreams would probably be restless.